Bright Ideas for Winter: Free December Science Lessons

Published on December 25
dark blue text reading "December Resources" on light blue background with holiday trim border.
dark blue text reading "December Resources" on light blue background with holiday trim border.

Wrap Up the Semester with New December Science Lessons

Between holiday shopping, decorating, and that stack of papers waiting to be graded, lesson planning can feel like one more thing. Our gift to you this season is brand-new resources designed to save you time while keeping learning front and center.

These project-based activities can span multiple class periods, perfect for the final stretch before winter break. As you wrap up the semester, these lessons bring real-world energy connections to life.

What’s Inside the December Resource Drop

This month’s lessons highlight hands-on resources that feature energy, sustainability, and student action. Each activity is classroom-ready and grounded in real-world applications.

1. Holiday Lights Play-Doh Circuits

Students explore LED polarity, build simple series and parallel circuits, compare brightness, and connect their findings to real holiday light behavior. It’s a festive, low-prep way to bring energy concepts to life in December.

This activity is a spin-off of our Play-Doh Circuits Hands-On, which includes extensions on conductors and insulators, Ohm’s Law, and circuit diagrams.

2. Home Electricity Audit

Help students connect classroom concepts to real life by examining how electricity is used at home—and where simple behavior changes can save energy.

3. AP Environmental Science Collection

A complete bundle of all our APES-aligned resources—over 35 activities and lesson plans organized in one place. Ideal for exam prep, mid-year planning, or sub-ready days.

How to Use These Lessons in Your Classroom

Each of these free December science lessons is designed to lighten your load during an already hectic month. Try these ideas:

  • The Holiday Lights activity works great as a quick lab, a review day activity, or a festive Friday lesson. Students can build models in groups, compare circuits, and connect their learning to the holiday lights they see at home.
  • Assign the Home Electricity Audit as a take-home project over winter break, helping students connect energy concepts to their own lives.
  • Plan ahead for the second semester using the APES Collection, perfect for pacing out units or prepping for exam season.

All lessons include ready-to-use materials, hands-on activities, and full curriculum alignments to NGSS and regional standards, so you can teach confidently and creatively all month long.

Takeaway for Teachers

Give yourself the gift of easy planning this season with free December science lessons that encourage sustainability, spark curiosity, and keep students engaged through winter break.

Explore the December resources now on Switch Classroom and bring a warm spark to your cool-weather teaching.

Want even more energy and environmental education?

Explore our full Resource Library here!